What would you say were ESSENTIALS for having a baby?

grandma247

I used face cloths as wipes. Four for a pound in the pound shops. There are facebook groups that sell second hand modern cloth nappies. If you sew you can even make them yourself. Ask around at school for clothes and equipment as most people are glad to pass stuff on.

Bonfire_Bride

I breastfed both my sons but with my 2nd I bought the chicco Next to me crib. Cost 150 (which I was paid for referring a friend to my company). Used it for 6 months (could have been for longer) and then I sold it EASILY for £70 to a friend. They go for 100+ on Ebay so you will get a large chunk of your money back.

Muslins! I bought some good quality ones (pack of 20) from Amazon and my son is 10months old now and we still have some that are unused.

Some of the newborn clothes out there are stunning but honestly, they are far more comfier in babygrows...stock up on these.

I think you have had some great advice. Get some support for breastfeeding...one you're through the first 2 weeks, I promise it gets easier. I just bought two bottles and these were never used.


Congratulations

sulphate

I realise this post is a bit old but as I love talking about baby stuff... this is stuff we bought and used well:

Nappies
Wipes
Muslins
Lots of vests and sleep suits in newborn and 0-3 month size (my son was 6lb 2 so got a lot of wear out of the newborn stuff, but bigger babies might not so much)
Car seat and isofix base
Next2me crib for upstairs
Moses basket for downstairs
Cotbed for when he outgrew the above
Bedding and mattresses as necessary
Sleeping bags for when baby is old enough, cellular blankets before
Cot top changer / changing table as we both have bad backs and i still hate changing on the floor
Decent baby carrier/sling (do some research/try them out)
Maclaren pushchair for when baby is a bit older
Changing mats
Changing bag
Ikea high chair (I actually bought a joie one because we need a folding one, but if you don't mind not folding your high chair the ikea one is cheaper and easier to clean)
Extended rear facing car seat (safer to keep baby rear facing as long as you can)
Playmat
Chair in your/baby's room for night feeds (no matter how you feed)
Breastfeeding pillow
Bath seat until baby can sit up
Bibs

Things we bought and found less useful:
Baby bath (as soon as he could sit up he went in big bath)
Nappy bin with cartridge things
Complicated/expensive clothes for the newborn stage
Very expensive silver cross travel system... used for 8 months then we bought a second hand maclaren :rotfl:
Breast pump (couldn't get on with any type I tried and son suddenly started refusing bottles after he was 6 months anyway)

Everyone is different though! Haven't mentioned bottle feeding stuff as I breastfed until 15 months.

nanny_beach

I was tempted to put "sex" first, 5 years is hardly a "while" since you had a baby,come on its like riding a bike, most of the stuff you can get second hand, in very good condition, you dont need a play mat, or a high chair for a new baby. cot, 3 sets of clothes,nappies, bibs,car seat if you have a car, I wouldnt even bother with a pram, I used to take my grandaughter out in a sling, while walking the dogs. If you can breast feed it saves a fortune, and is quick and easy, especially in the middle of the night. I used towelling nappies, OK my youngest is now 24, but I kept them for all my babies, I competely disagree they are no cheaper than disposables, I boiled them clean, (nappy cleaner eats them away) dried them on the line if fine, or an airer, cost no money. After having her I gave them stll imaculate to a charity abroad. My oldest daughter had a baby a year after me, and I was horrified she was spending £9 a week on disposables, which was a fortune 23 years ago. Plus they take 250 years to degrade, which means every single disposable nappy is still on this planet, - how revolting! Let us know when you have the baby, I dont expect you will end up buying much, friends and relatives all love a baby and are keen to give gifts.